Eclat restoration

[Robert Crooks]

Not Esprit related I know, but as some of you know, I have been spending some time restoring an Eclat Riviera over the last few months. I had always fancied a restoration project, and when a seriously mistreated but cheap Eclat was offered to me in May, I couldn't resist it. I have almost abandoned it several times, but I am now starting to refit the interior, and feeling reasonably proud of my progress. Once the interior is finished, the body requires some tidying up and then it has to come of the chassis to be refelted, and then refitted and everything reconnected. Some photos below show what I inherited, and the progress made.

[73JPS]

Any time another Lotus gets back on the road in proper condition it a plus for all... nice work!

[Clark]

Robert - having owned and loved 2 Elites, I'm absolutely thrilled to see your progress!

The interior looks just stunning, and now you have the "new car smell" to remind you of your accomplishments! And the exterior looks very good for a once-mistreated car.

Best of luck lifting off the body. I've always wondered how that process goes.

Keep up the amazing work and keep the updates coming. Looks like you'll have an amazing driver before very long!

[nello]

Looking good Rob - love 'um

[Mark Blanchard]

Looks like you're doing a good job Robert! Great to see such a rare car being put back on the road. I'd love to have a Riviera some day.

[Loose Cannon]

Great stuff, I don't envy you taking the dash out. Was this for the windscreen wiper?

Can I ask did you recolour the leather, and are you fiutting rear belts?

[USAndretti42]

How someone with 3 Lotuses finds time to restore one of them while keeping the other 2 maintained and driven I don't know. Well done, Robert, for what you've achieved so far. That re-fitted interior looks really good. I'm sure you will have an excellent car when you've finished.

A Lotus specialist in North Carolina showed me an Eclat he had restored for himself. He knew he wouldn't get his money back but it was beautiful. They are great cars. After all, they are Lotuses and I don't think Lotus has ever made a dog or a car that was not nice to drive. Some may not have made money but that's a different thing.

It's interesting. I was reading an Autocar, I think, about the Evora when it was launched and it had a sidebar to the article about the 2+2 Lotuses of the past and how they had been no good. For example, the Elan +2 was described as "ungainly and clumsy" which is odd as several testers now reckon that the +2 handles even better than an Elan. The article also denigrated the Excel even though it was the most reliable and useable Lotuses of its time and never would have existed without the Eclat.

[Andy67]

Well done Rob! As previously said,the interior looks stunning...! A job to be very proud of!

[andydclements]

And a Riviera, now that's a worthwhile restoration, the Eclats were great but the whole lift out roof was a great bonus. It's looking fantastic. i hope my Excel looks 1/10th as good at some point.

[Robert Crooks]

Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement.

The leather was covered in mold. It took weeks to clean it thoroughly, and then I had it reconnolised, which involves a number of processes, including recolouring.

I haven't fitted rear lap belts at this stage, but I may do so as the car progresses further. It is relatively simple to remove the rear seats and side panels to do this.

The dash wasn't as bad as expected, even putting it back, which I really feared. Putting it back and connecting everything up took less than an hour! I did replace the windscreen wiper motor, but the dash had to come out anyway to clean it properly.

The paintwork isn't bad, but it had a pretty poor respray about 5 years ago which isn't even in the original Lotus copper. There are no apparent gel coat cracks, so it probably just needs flatting and painting.

Will post some more pictures when I have finished the interior and fitted the refurbished Speedlines.

Robert

[Loose Cannon]

Your car is going to look superb, can't wait to see it one day. Copperfire is THE best colour for the 4 seaters, seeing one when new is what turned me on to them (and Lotus in general) Are you going for a respray?

I was planning on recolouring the leather on mine, I don't know what additional work "Connolising" involves, is it just intensive feeding? Mine's the same style as yours ie cloth inserts, but it is part leather only ie it has vinyl sections incorporated, and the leather even though in reasonable nick has faded a slightly different colour. On mine also the drivers seat cushion is a little flattened (nothing to do with me honest!) leaving the leather cover a little loose. Yours looks much better, perhaps the connolising put a bit of spring back in the leather.

Regarding the belts, I know static lap belts are easy and readily available but I want to fit inertias like the originals. Not so much for additional protection (laps are always going to be lacking) but to keep the back tidy and so people aren't fumbling around with trailing loops everywhere. The original reels must have been very compact as there's not much space in that corner position

Once finished you can go all Lewis Collins on us, dig your blazer and slacks out;

[Robert Crooks]

Is that from the Professionals? That is so cool. Haven't seen those pics before. Was never totally sold on the colour, but I am now.

[lotus4s]

Great work so far on the interior.

Was the car running when you bought it and what kind of major mechanical work is there to be done?

I really like the styling of these cars and would love to have one.

Keep up the good work and progress reports.

[Robert Crooks]

It hasn't been on the road for about 10 years, but the old gentleman I bought it from had been restoring it mechanically until he became too ill to complete it. The chassis had been stripped and painted, the engine, brakes and suspension rebuilt, and a new rack installed. So once the interior is complete and we have completed the install of the body on the chassis, and connected everything up, it should be relatively simple to get it back on the road. I hope so anyway.

Robert

[Loose Cannon]

At least you don'r have to worry about filling an 80s sunroof hole in!

The pics above are from "Who Dares Wins" circa 1981, a Lewis Collins vehicle from when he was pushing hard for the Bond role I think.

[Norfolk Hustler]

Rob

Eclat looks great ...one of the nicest I've seen ... great coloured that hasn't dated.

The photos from The Professionals are brilliant .......... What a great forum item you started

Andrew

[Rodewaryer]

Haven't seen the Final Option in a while (the renamed US version of Who Dares Wins). Won't be forgetting the Eclat anytime soon either.

Robert C, very nice. You are justified in that feeling about yourself. :-)

[Kimbers]

Rob

Absolutely fantastic. So many Elites and Eclats fall by the wayside because it's not economically sound to get them back to new conditon unless you are a dab hand yourself.

And a riviera is always a good one to try your hand with.

[mangel]

"Who Dares Wins!" top film in a sort of Dad dross kinda way!!

Car looks great by the way.

Edited September 7, 2009 by mangel

[GavinT]

Nice work Rob.

I just looked up the 'Who Dares Wins' Eclat on the DVLA website. Unfortunately Date of Liability on WNG 46X goes all the way back to 01/10/1985.

Edited September 7, 2009 by GavinT

[Loose Cannon]

What happens when a car is given personal plates, does the DVLA history on that plate end there?

[Robert Crooks]

I got the instrument cluster refitted yesterday. I had to rub down and repaint the black rim round the instruments as this had rusted after standing damp for so long. Of course they are covered by the plastic panel fitted over the cluster. Still, at least I know they are right!

[Mark Blanchard]

Looks like you've done a nice job! Carpets look great and the leather work looks top notch, sort of thing you've seen in a Ferrari.

[rocket63]

Cant wait to see the finished article mate

[Kimbers]

You are doing such a cracking job of that mate! Can't wait to see her on the road.